Augusta National Golf Club invited reigning NCAA Division I Men’s Champion Gordon Sargent and Japan’s Kazuki Higa to the 87th Annual Masters, bringing the April Major’s field to 80 players.
The 19-year-old Vanderbilt sophomore birdied on the first hole of a four-man playoff in May to become the first freshman since 2007 to win an individual title at the NCAA Championship. . The Birmingham, Alabama, golfer, who ranks him No. 3 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, is the first amateur to accept a special invite to the Masters since Aaron Baddeley in 2000.
Higa, 27, has won the Japan Golf Tour six times, including four last season. He finished 1st on the Japanese Order of Merit and on the Official World Golf Rankings he is 68th. It will be his second start in a major championship. He missed the cut at his championship at the 150th Open held in St. Andrews this July. Higa tied for 36th at the ZOZO Championship in October.
Augusta National President Fred Ridley said, “The Masters Tournament prioritizes opportunities to improve golf for both amateurs and professionals around the world.” We invited the deserving athletes, each of whom has demonstrated their talents over the past year, whether on the international stage or at the elite amateur level, and we look forward to hosting them at Augusta National in April. increase.” “
Players have an additional opportunity to qualify for the Masters scheduled for April 6-9. The winner of the upcoming 2023 Latin American Amateur Championship, as well as any of the top 50 players in the official published World Golf Rankings, as well as winners of future PGA TOUR events awarding the full points allocation for the TOUR Championship. You will be invited to participate in the field.The week before the Masters if you have not already qualified by other means.
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